"Addicted to Euphoria": The History, Clinical Presentation, and Management of Party Drug Misuse.
International review of neurobiology January 1, 2015 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2015.02.005 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPeople use party drugs like ecstasy (MDMA), GHB, and ketamine as a shortcut to euphoria, an amplified form of pleasure that normally reinforces survival behaviors such as eating, drinking, sex, and parenting. This chapter surveys the history and epidemiology of party drug use, then discusses the distinct neuropharmacological and physiological actions of each drug. It provides a platform for understanding the difficulties users face with intoxication, harmful use, dependence, and withdrawal, and how these should be clinically managed.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Gbh Party drugs |
| Key finding | Party drugs serve as a shortcut to euphoria, and each has distinct pharmacological and physiological actions that lead to specific clinical challenges. |
Abstract
Eating, drinking, sexual activity, and parenting invoke pleasure, an emotion that promotes repetition of these behaviors, are essential for survival. Euphoria, a feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness, is an amplification of pleasure, aspired to one's essential biological needs that are satisfied. People use party drugs as a shortcut to euphoria. Ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), γ-hydroxybutyric acid, and ketamine fall under the umbrella of the term "party drugs," each with differing neuropharmacological and physiological actions. This chapter seeks to survey the history and epidemiology of party drug use; we will then discuss the pharmacological characteristics of each drug to provide a platform for understanding the difficulties that party drug users encounter through intoxication, harmful use, dependence, and withdrawal and how these should be clinically managed.